Exclusive - Wenger to blame for Van Persie quit threat, claims Robson

The Dutch striker says he won’t sign an extension to his current contract, which has just one year left to run, and that is likely to spark a bidding war between Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus.

Arsenal returned to training on Tuesday, with Van Persie among their ranks, but Robson believes the situation should be addressed sooner rather than later.

The former Arsenal midfielder told Hawksbee & Jascobs: “There is only one person to blame [for this situation] and that’s the manager. His philosophy hasn't been working in recent years.

“He wanted to get in young players and build them up but it hasn’t worked because players want to leave when they’re not winning things.

“The person who runs Arsenal is Arsene Wenger. The board don’t dictate to him, he dictates to them. So it’s his policy that they don’t want to spend big money and big wages.

“But they are paying big money to players who aren’t good enough, the likes of Denilson, Vela, Bendtner. And they can’t sell them because they’re being paid too much money. And who pays them that money? Arsene Wenger.”

Even though Van Persie is back at the north London club after his summer break, Robson feels it would be best for all concerned if he left sooner rather than later.

And he dismisses suggestions he could yet make a Wayne Rooney-style U-turn and commit his future to the Gunners.

“I can’t see it being like Rooney,” added Robson. “He wasn’t so blatant in his words as Van Persie was. He’s stated he won’t sign a new contract, so with a year left Arsenal should sell him.

“This is an important time to get your team right. They can’t play with Van Persie in pre-season and then on the eve of the season find he’s going. Where are Giroud and Podolski going to play? You have to practice with them.

“And if you don’t want to play at a club, the other players will want you out. They want to know who will be playing , how they’ll be playing, who’ll be up front. So let’s get that sorted out.

“It would be good if Van Persie goes as soon as possible and Arsenal can get in a lot of money. They can spend that money and then they’d have a good chance of maybe getting back to that top spot again.”

Quote:

If you don’t want to play at a club, the other players will want you out